Akot back in the Sea Bears fold

Emmanuel Akot is back with the Winnipeg Sea Bears.

The 6-8 starting forward left his hometown team high and dry three weeks before the CEBL’s Championship Weekend to suit up for South Sudan at FIBA’s AfroBasket tournament in Angola.

Akot was not expected to be available for Friday night’s Western Conference final against the Calgary Surge (7:30 p.m. tip-off) as AfroBasket rolls through the weekend, but when South Sudan’s run ended early on Monday after a loss to Senegal, the door opened to him returning.

Akot’s decision to leave was a controversial one with South Sudan not meeting the FIBA rule of giving club teams a minimum of 30 days notice, and the CEBL’s transaction window had closed so the Sea Bears were unable to pick up a replacement.

Akot arrived in Winnipeg late Wednesday after a nearly 30-hour trip home and told reporters after Thursday’s practice he has no regrets.

“It’s my country, my ancestors, both my mother and father are from South Sudan, so, obviously, any chance I get to suit up for my country I’m going to take it,” said Akot.

“It was a lose-lose situation where I’d hurt the Sea Bears, but I’d hurt my fellow countrymen as well. So, I think it was a tough situation, but that’s behind us now.”

Instead of releasing Akot, the Sea Bears suspended him just in case something changed at the last minute.

“In Winnipeg, there were some agreements made that he needed to play the entire season for us. That was our expectation. That’s where the conflict was when he chose to play for South Sudan,” said head coach and general manager Mike Taylor.

“But you know, situations happen with players who have multiple opportunities and sometimes decisions are made when you get on different pages, and I think we’ve worked our way back to the same page. During the conflict, cooler heads did prevail.”

The 26-year-old averaged 11.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 19 games with the Sea Bears this season. Rookie Canadian Nathan Bilamu stepped up in Akot’s absence and contributed 7.3 points and 5.0 rebounds in five starts.

“Obviously, some fans were hurt, but a lot of people showed support,” said Akot. “They were happy that I was gonna go and represent my country. I heard a lot from everybody, but at the end of the day, I was OK with my decision.”

Akot struggled to get going in four outings in Angola, producing 1.5 points and 1.5 rebounds in just under 20 minutes per game. He said the Sea Bears have welcomed him back with open arms, including team owner David Asper, and that he’s ready to make an impact.

“It hurt playing for the national team and coming up short, so, this is kind of redemption for me,” said Akot. “Winning a championship in my hometown would mean everything.”

ROBERTS QUESTIONABLE TO PLAY

Sea Bears guard Terry Roberts is questionable to play against Calgary.

Roberts suffered an ankle injury on Tuesday and hasn’t practised since.

“We’ll find out. It’s a game-time decision,” said Taylor. “Obviously, he didn’t participate in practice today so you can kind of anticipate where that leads.”

If Roberts can’t go, the Sea Bears will have to dress guard Jarron Cumberland or forward Jaylin Williams as their fourth and final import.

Roberts averaged 12.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 5.7 assists in 15 games this summer.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca